How to Attract Butterflies

Just started taking photos of butterflies recently after I bought a

Sigma 180mm macro lens. After a few sessions, I realised that it was

pretty silly and fruitless chasing around for the butterflies.<br>

I think a better approach is for me to look for a good spot, set up

my camera and wait for the butterfly to come along. Is there any

stuffs that I can use to attract the butterfly to land my chosen

spot?<div></div>

<p>From early morning to late afternoon, butterflies follow a somewhat routine

lifestyle much like us humans do. You have wonderful opportunities to catch them

in various possible activities all throughout the day.</p>

<p><b>1. Early Morning: </b>Butterflies "sleep" at night much like we

do. The bigger ones usually pick dense bushes (dense bushes are more manifested

by small spiders, but bigger butterflies are not very vulnerable to them, they

do avoid strong webs such as those spun by argiope spiders). Smaller butterflies

(browns, silvers, hairstreaks) tend to sleep in ground -level stalks in the open

filed or in sparse vegetation. They tend to pick a place where the morning light

will hit first so that they can warm up and fly away before falling prey to

prowling lynx spiders and small birds. While sleeping, all butterflies get hold

of a stalk/leaf/flower bud and hang onto it (often upside-down). In the very

early morning, you have excellent opportunities to photograph dew-covered

butterflies (like <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/1255012">this</a>

and <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/1960455">this</a>) and

you can actually get very close since they are unable to move much at this

stage, and are seemingly oblivious (vulnerable) to approaching animals including

ourselves.</p>

<p>Since they stay absolutely still, you can get more natural looking, pleasing

results by *not* using flash. Be careful not to move/strike whatever they cling

on to, they are barely able to move and will fall on to the ground as potential

prey to spiders/assassin bugs etc.</p>

<p><b>2. Morning/Late Morning: </b>After they warm up a little bit they often

spread their  wings out to dry the insides, and this is the best possible

opportunity to get a spread-wing view (like <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/1905218">this</a>

and <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/2019513">this</a>),

since they keep them spread for quite a bit of time and are not 100% alert yet

towards approaching animals. Be careful not to suddenly cast a shadow on them

during this time, they are prone to fly off. A flash may not be necessary but

keep one handy to work against wind movements. Be careful of black backgrounds

unless you consciously want them.</p>

<p>At this time of day, butterflies tend to emerge from cocoons as well.</p>

<p><b>3. Late Morning/Mid Day: </b>When the sun shines, the butterflies engage

in various activities such as feeding, courtship, mating,  egg-laying etc

and this is the most challenging (and potentially most rewarding part if done

right) part (like <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/1612299">this</a>

and <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/1561023">this</a>).

Keep a butterfly bracket handy, but try to work without flash as much as

possible. They tend to gather near flowers that have an abundance of nectar. You

just have to observe and determine their favorite flowers. Be careful of harsh

sunlight which will low the highlights.</p>

<p>Some entomologists reportedly have had luck by using sugar syrup and natural

flower-derived fragrances but I have never used them.</p>

<p>Mating butterflies are easy to approach - but be careful not to disturb them.</p>

<p><b>4. Afternoon/Late Afternoon: </b>In the early/late afternoon, after all

activities throughout the day and multiple meals, butterflies become sluggish

and rest on stalks. This is similar to stage 2. above with the difference that

they tend not to spread their wings (like <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/1703972">this</a>).

All rules of 2. above apply here as well. If you have identified a specimen at

this stage, chances are you will again find the same specimen more or less at

the same location early next morning in stage 1 above.</p>

<p>A few thumb rules:</p>

<p><b>0. </b>I assume you do not use AF and always use a tripod unless using

flash.</p>

<p><b>1. </b>No sudden movements.</p>

<p><b>2. </b>Chasing around or wait-and-watch -- both work, I've had better luck

with the later.</p>

<p><b>3. </b>When you spot a specimen in stage 1, 2 and 4 from a distance --

estimate the height from ground from the same distance, adjust your tripod and

then approach. Do not fight with adjusting legs/center-column when you get near,

you'll only scare them away.</p>

<p><b>4. </b>If possible, guesstimate the size you want on film/CCD and set your

desired magnification before you approach the subject.</p>

<p><b>5. </b>Respect, know and love your subjects. Pick up a copy of "The

Illustrated Encyclopedia of Butterflies" by Dr. John Feltwell or "The

Fascinating World of Butterflies and Moths" by Bob Gibbons and read it.

Pick up John Shaw's "Closeups in Nature" if you haven't already.</p>

<p>Your photographs will look very good with good technique.<i> You, your camera

and lens -- together, this whole unit has to think, behave and function like a

precision macro-photography instrument</i>. That will definitely come with

practice.</p>

<p>And with good technique and knowledge and understanding of your subjects --

your photos will look great!</p>

<p>Hope this helps,</p>

<p>PS: The photograph you posted likely shows the butterfly in the act of laying

eggs inside a leaf, and I'd keep this photo.</p>

<p> </p>

Wow. What HASN'T Arnab covered? Looks like he's taught you the all-you-need-to-know pocket handbook on shooting butterflies.

 

Well... there's also the NASTY side, like stunning the butterflies and placing them etc. But being a NATURE forum, I don't think I'll highlight the finer points of nasty photography here.

...or have your wife plant a decent flower garden. The butterflies will appear as your 'yard' will become part of their food chain.

Iv'e gotten into the habit of scanning all of PN very quickly; but I really had to slow down and read carefully Arnab's very detailed and accurate answer and check his great website. Great source of information!

Thanks, Arnab for such an informative answer to Wee's question. I'd like to ask if you have any experience in planting of flowers to attarct butterflies? Do you have any specific recommendations?

This is a link from the American Museum of Natural History regarding creating a butterfly garden.

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/butterflies/garden.html

 

Depending on where you are it may or may not work but does make interesting reading. They do have a winter Butterfly exhibit. Being on the NE in the USA it is my only refuge for getting up-close while I long for spring and summer. I have even tried using the 80-400VR with a 500D and the SB-80DX on a bracket with limited success at this exhibit.

Good luck.<div></div>

Thanks Arnab for your detailed explaination!<br>

You should contribute it as an article to photo.net so that it becomes an easy reference instead of it being lost or hard-to-find in the maze of forums...

In Africa, I remember that butterflies were attracted to urine. (Someone else can take it from here.)

I was about to add the urine bit too, lol. Remember reading in NG I think that the natives of one town in Africa help a photographer attract butterflies by, you guessed it, urinating, lol. Kids dont try this at home!

<p>Thanks guys, I'm glad you find these inputs useful.</p>

<p><i>"I'd like to ask if you have any experience in planting of flowers to

attract butterflies? Do you have any specific recommendations?" </i>--

George Gilbert </p>

<p>I have never tried this, but my mother makes a small garden in our front-yard

and I do take opportunity of photographing butterflies whenever I find them

dropping in. </p>

<p>As for specific recommendations -- different geographical locations have

different species of plants, and different species of butterflies that are

accustomed to feed off of a few types of flowers that are familiar to them.

Among common garden plants, marigold and calendula are two types of plants that

come to mind.</p>

<p>I've heard that in developed countries like the US/UK etc. you have butterfly

parks/centers housing a number of species including the native ones. A good idea

would be to observe the kinds of plants used there, and replicate the same set

at home.</p>

<p>"<i>You should contribute it as an article to photo.net so that it

becomes an easy reference instead of it being lost or hard-to-find in the maze

of forums...</i>" -- Wee Keng_Hor</p>

<p>If something like this would be useful as a reference I'd be more than happy

to do so. However, I'm doubtful it can be used as-is though, I typed it quickly

and did not cover all the grounds ... </p>

<p><i>"In Africa, I remember that butterflies were attracted to urine."

</i>-- Alex Lofquist </p>

<p>As for butterflies' being attracted to human excrements, this is not

surprising. In a dry, challenging environment (like most of Africa) -- all

animals, including insects, are drawn to any fluid that potentially contain

salt/nutrients/water. Butterflies are also known to be attracted to fermenting

tree sap,  molasses  or even plain damp ground moistened by fountain

water.</p>

<p>Good references for insect behavior in general are "Bugs of the

World" and "Insects in Camera", the second one is authored by Ken

Preston Mafham while he did only photography for the first book (I forget the

actual author's name). As an aside, Ken Preston's insect behavior photographs

are amazing -- almost always taken with flash though. He reportedly has over

75,000 insect slides on file! His photography, however, is less

"artsy" than John Shaw's (the Shaw style I prefer better) though would

be more appealing to entomologists because he shows bugs in extreme detail and

from very close.</p>

Urine again - or plates of slightly manky fruit in the garden to attract many species of insect

 

Go Arnab! one of the best contributions I have seen in a long time.

Went back to try photographying butterflies again. Brought a packet of my urine :) and some sweet syrup drinks. Poured them on some flowers but these tricks did not work. the syrup drinks attracted ants almost immediately though. <br>

Was lucky to get a couple of good shots though before it started to rain for the rest of the day....<div></div>

I don't know where you are photographing the butterflies or where you live, but if you are able to purchase and either plant in the ground or in pots any plants that will attract the butterflies, I would to that. Pentas are good, as are lantana, but you would need to find out what plants locally are available and which ones are good for butterflies. Having these nectar plants will just increase the chances for butterfly activity and give them more reason to visit you.

 

I have also read that laying out a plate of rotting fruit, cut into pieces, may attract butterflies as they like to sip the sweet liquid. Of course this could also bring ants, squirrels and other things you may not want, but there are several ways you can try and bring more butterflies to you.

 

Male butterfiles supposedly like to "puddle" which is when they gather in low-lying areas of water to drink and bask in the water, so having a few little wet spots in your yard may help too.

There is a little garden in a hospital that is specially named as Butterfly Trail. Doubtless to say, butterflies are everywhere in this little garden.<br>

What I wanted is to zero in further. I want to select a good spot and attract butterflies to land specifically there. Of course, the other way is to simply wait and pray for butterflies to land.

Ajay, and others interested in the AMNH Butterflies in Winter (now year-round)

exhibit... it's very, very possible to get good photos at a place like that. Things to

keep in mind:

<p>

1) Go in the evening, right before closing. There are fewer people, although more of

the butterflies are damaged. But right before closing, they release the butterflies for

the next day... the best of the best, just born.

<p>

2) Remember humidity. All of your equipment will fog up if you're coming in from the

cold, and there's not all that much you can do but wait ten minutes for it to warm up.

<p>

3) Lighting is a bit strange. Think either about color compensation filters, a bit of

photoshop, or just not minding.

<p>

4) No tripod / monopod. Flash okay.

<p>

Is it as good as shooting butterflies in nature? Well, it's certainly less natural. It's also

a lot easier to work on your technique. The density of butterflies is amazing... you

literally have to watch where you step. You can camp by a certain flower you like for a

while, and someone will land on it in the next ten minutes. You can have photos of

butterflies landing on little girls... it's amazing how scared they (the girls) get, which

is kind of amusing. And you can go back the next week and see totally different

species.

<p>

If you're thinking about buttefly photography, or even just bored in NY, this exhibit is

a great chance to practice.

<p>

And, of course, a gratuitous link to my pictures from this exhibit: <a href="http://

www.photo.net/photo/2051939">1</a>, <a href="http://

www.photo.net/photo/2051935">2</a>, <a href="http://

www.photo.net/photo/2051930">3</a>. These should be

qualified by saying that this was one week after I first got my camera, and was still

more than a little clueless.